What about the UAE’s Mirage 2000-9 for the Philippines Air Force (PAF)?

Indeed, France is very much willing to sell the Rafale aircraft to the United Arab Emirates. One of the issues is to find a solution concerning their 63 Mirage 2000-9 multirole aircraft. Even though the decision to acquire the Rafale is close, remains the destination for these brand new aircrafts at a unit price of $20 millions. After Libya (not a very happy solution for France due to the high standard capability), Brazil (France is reluctant to the idea preferring to sell 36 brand new Rafales), Iraq (with a payment through oil contracts), Philippines might be the latest destination. The aircraft is combat proven with the events in Libya 2011 and the UAE witnessed a higher availability rate for its Mirage 2000-9 than its F-16 E/F Block 60.

Mirage 2000-9 would be very convenient for Philippines as it requires low maintenance compare to similar US jet fighters and a real deterrent capability towards China.

Philippines might be a happy end solution for Dassault in its deal with the UAE.